Pentagon-DOJ Task Force Targets Media Leaks Amid Growing Press Tensions

On Monday, July 13, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a joint task force between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The task force is authorized to “identify and prosecute” individuals who disclose “unauthorized” defense information to the press. Under the new authority, the DoD’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all relevant information, support, and records across the Pentagon, and must obtain a “full and complete” response within two days of any request.

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The announcement follows a series of high-profile leak investigations. Last year the Pentagon launched internal probes into personnel accused of passing classified material to journalists and warned that polygraph tests could be employed. In March 2026, senior aides Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—the former chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen A. Feinberg—were placed on leave, escorted from the Pentagon, and subsequently fired as part of a leak investigation.

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Simultaneously, the DOJ issued subpoenas to four *New York Times* reporters who had reported on security concerns surrounding President Trump’s Qatari-donated aircraft. The subpoenas sought testimony before a Manhattan grand jury and prompted criticism from press-freedom advocates who described the move as intimidation.

The Guardian

• Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense, initiator of the task force.

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• Office of General Counsel (OGC) – DoD office empowered to coordinate leak investigations.

The Hill

• Todd Blanche – Acting U.S. Attorney General, thanked by Hegseth for cooperation.

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• Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, Colin Carroll – Former senior Pentagon aides dismissed in the leak probe.

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• David McCraw – *New York Times* top newsroom lawyer, critic of the subpoenas.

The Guardian

• John Ullyot – Former chief Pentagon spokesperson, commentator on Hegseth’s own leak controversy.

The Hill

• Three senior aides were removed and terminated as part of the ongoing investigation.

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• The OGC’s new directive requires a response to any leak-related request within 48 hours.

The Hill

• DOJ subpoenas targeted four *Times* reporters; similar subpoenas had previously been issued to journalists at the *Wall Street Journal* and *Washington Post* earlier in the year.

The Guardian

Hegseth framed the task force as essential to safeguarding troops, stating that “leaked information risks lives” and that the new tools would “greatly assist us in protecting our joint force.” He added that the security of the nation “cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines.” The DOJ spokesperson emphasized that “reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are,” while also affirming the department’s respect for the press’s role.

The Hill

Press-freedom groups and legal counsel argue that the subpoenas and the broader crackdown threaten First Amendment rights. The National Press Club warned that the actions “should alarm every American because it threatens the public’s constitutional right to an independent press.” Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot highlighted a perceived double standard, noting Hegseth’s own prior use of the Signal app to discuss pending strikes, which the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General deemed a policy violation.

The Hill

An administration official told *The Hill* in mid-March that there was no evidence Caldwell leaked Pentagon information, yet the aides were still dismissed. Conversely, the OIG report confirmed Hegseth’s own breach of policy, but no criminal or disciplinary action was reported. The extent to which the task force will pursue prosecutions beyond the current subpoenas remains unspecified.

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• “Leaked information risks lives. These new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force. The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines,” — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary

The Hill

• “Access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law.” — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary

The Hill

• “appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects” — David McCraw, *New York Times* top newsroom lawyer

The Guardian

• “It’s very rich for Hegseth to cite the need to protect ‘sensitive national defense information’ after he himself shared ‘sensitive national defense information’ last yearwith his wife overSignal and faced zero consequences.” — John Ullyot, former chief Pentagon spokesperson

The Hill

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The Hill

The task force marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to curb unauthorized disclosures, while simultaneously igniting a fresh debate over press freedom and governmental accountability.

The Guardian